Pill cutter

Abstract

A pill cutter has a base, a clamping assembly, a connecting unit, a cover, and a cutting assembly. The clamping assembly has two first clamping units moveably mounted on the base. The connecting unit has a base end moveably mounted on the base and a cover end pivotally mounted on the cover. The cutting assembly has a pressing unit moveably mounted on the cover and a blade securely mounted on the pressing unit. When the cover is opened, the connecting unit moves along with the cover and pulls the two first clamping units away from each other. When the cover is closed, the two first clamping units move toward each other by springs to stably clamp a pill in any shape or size. Therefore, a user can simply press the pressing unit to move the blade to safely cut the clamped pill.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pill cutter comprising:
 a base having
 a cutting surface having a pill area; 
 two first tracks mounted on the cutting surface, located respectively on two opposite sides of the pill area, and extending toward the pill area; and 
 a connecting track mounted on the cutting surface; 
 
 a clamping assembly having
 two first clamping units respectively mounted on the two first tracks of the base; the two first clamping units being capable of moving along the two first tracks toward or away from the pill area; 
 two clamping elastic units respectively connected to the two first clamping units; each of the two clamping elastic units connected between the corresponding first clamping unit and the base; the two clamping elastic units respectively configured to move the two first clamping units toward the pill area; 
 a gear rotatably mounted on the base; 
 two racks respectively securely connected to the two first clamping units; the two racks engaging with the gear and respectively located on two opposite sides of the gear such that the two first clamping units move along with each other respectively in two reverse directions; and 
 an abutting unit securely mounted on one of the two first clamping units; 
 
 a connecting unit having
 a base end moveably mounted on the connecting track of the base; 
 a cover end; and 
 an abutting segment selectively abutting the abutting unit of the clamping assembly; 
 
 a cover selectively covering the cutting surface of the base, and having
 an outer side; 
 an inner side being opposite to the outer side; 
 a first pivoting segment pivotally connected to the base; and 
 a second pivoting segment located on the inner side and pivotally connected to the cover end of the connecting unit; 
 wherein during the pivoting of the cover relative to the base, the second pivoting segment moves the connecting unit, then the connecting unit moves the corresponding first clamping unit via the abutting segment and the abutting unit, then said first clamping unit moves the other first clamping unit via the gear and the two racks, and thus the two first clamping units are moved away from the pill area; 
 
 a cutting assembly having
 a pressing unit moveably mounted on the cover and located on the outer side; 
 a blade securely mounted on the pressing unit and moving along with the pressing unit; the blade being capable of moving toward the pill area of the cutting surface when the cover is closed; and 
 at least one cutting elastic unit connected between the pressing unit and the cover; the at least one cutting elastic unit configured to move the blade away from the cutting surface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two first clamping units of the clamping assembly selectively abut each other. 
     
     
       3. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of the two first clamping units has
 a track segment movably mounted on the corresponding first track; 
 two clamping segments protruding from an end, which is toward the pill area, of the track segment; wherein when the two first clamping units abut each other, the two clamping segments of one of the two first clamping units respectively abut the two clamping segments of the other first clamping unit; and 
 a clamping groove formed between the two clamping segments; the two clamping grooves of the two first clamping units aligned to each other. 
 
     
     
       4. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein
 the base further has
 two second track assemblies mounted on the cutting surface; the two second track assemblies respectively located on the two opposite sides of the pill area; each of the two second track assemblies having
 two second tracks extending toward the pill area and being inclined to the corresponding first track; the two second tracks approaching each other in a direction toward the pill area; 
 
 
 each of the first clamping units of the clamping assembly has
 two sliding grooves; the two sliding grooves extending away from each other in a direction toward the pill area; the two sliding grooves respectively formed in the two clamping segments; 
 
 the clamping assembly further has
 two second clamping unit assemblies respectively mounted on the two second track assemblies and respectively mounted on the two first clamping units; each of the two second clamping unit assemblies having
 two second clamping units respectively moveably mounted on the two second tracks of the corresponding second track assembly, and respectively moveably mounted on the two sliding grooves of the corresponding first clamping unit; 
 wherein when said first clamping unit moves toward the pill area, the two second clamping units of said second clamping unit assembly move along the two second tracks and the two sliding grooves toward each other; 
 wherein when said first clamping unit moves away from the pill area, the two second clamping units of said second clamping unit assembly move along the two second tracks and the two sliding grooves away from each other. 
 
 
 
     
     
       5. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein
 the cover further has a blade hole connecting the outer side with the inner side; 
 the blade of the cutting assembly is located on the outer side and is capable of moving through the blade hole toward the inner side; and 
 the at least one cutting elastic unit is configured to move the blade through the blade hole toward the outer side. 
 
     
     
       6. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the cutting assembly further has
 a latch moveably mounted on the cover and having an inclined surface; wherein when the pressing unit moves relative to the cover, the pressing unit abuts the inclined surface and pushes the latch by sliding relative to the inclined surface; 
 
 the connecting unit further has
 a safety segment protruding from the cover end; wherein when the cover is opened, the safety segment abuts and stops the latch so that the pressing unit is stuck by the latch. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein
 the base further has a powder hole formed through the cutting surface; 
 the pill cutter further has
 a powder drawer detachably mounted on the base, located beneath the cutting surface, and corresponding in position to the powder hole. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein
 the two second tracks of each of the two second track assemblies are two elongated holes formed through the cutting surface; 
 the pill cutter further has
 a powder drawer detachably mounted on the base, located beneath the cutting surface, and corresponding in position to the second tracks. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pill cutter further has
 a pill box mounted on a bottom of the base and having a storage space. 
 
     
     
       10. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein
 the pill box is moveably mounted on the base and is capable of moving relative to the base to open the storage space. 
 
     
     
       11. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 the pill cutter further has
 a pushing unit located on the outer side of the cover and having
 a pivoting end pivotally connected to the cover; 
 a pressing end being opposite to the pivoting end; and 
 
 an abutting part located between the pivoting end and the pressing end; the abutting part abutting the pressing unit of the cutting assembly so that the pushing unit is capable of pressing the pressing unit during pivoting relative to the cover. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the two first clamping units has
 a track segment movably mounted on the corresponding first track; 
 two clamping segments protruding from an end, which is toward the pill area, of the track segment; and 
 a clamping groove formed between the two clamping segments; the two clamping grooves of the two first clamping units aligned to each other. 
 
     
     
       13. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the base further has
 two second track assemblies mounted on the cutting surface; the two second track assemblies respectively located on the two opposite sides of the pill area; each of the two second track assemblies having
 two second tracks extending toward the pill area and being inclined to the corresponding first track; the two second tracks approaching each other in a direction toward the pill area; 
 
 
 each of the first clamping units of the clamping assembly has
 two sliding grooves; the two sliding grooves extending away from each other in a direction toward the pill area; 
 
 the clamping assembly further has
 two second clamping unit assemblies respectively mounted on the two second track assemblies and respectively mounted on the two first clamping units; each of the two second clamping unit assemblies having
 two second clamping units respectively moveably mounted on the two second tracks of the corresponding second track assembly, and respectively moveably mounted on the two sliding grooves of the corresponding first clamping unit; 
 wherein when said first clamping unit moves toward the pill area, the two second clamping units of said second clamping unit assembly move along the two second tracks and the two sliding grooves toward each other; 
 wherein when said first clamping unit moves away from the pill area, the two second clamping units of said second clamping unit assembly move along the two second tracks and the two sliding grooves away from each other. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein
 the two second tracks of each of the two second track assemblies are two elongated holes formed through the cutting surface; 
 the pill cutter further has
 a powder drawer detachably mounted on the base, located beneath the cutting surface, and corresponding in position to the second tracks. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cover further has a blade hole connecting the outer side with the inner side; 
 the blade of the cutting assembly is located on the outer side and is capable of moving through the blade hole toward the inner side; and 
 the at least one cutting elastic unit is configured to move the blade through the blade hole toward the outer side. 
 
     
     
       16. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cutting assembly further has
 a latch moveably mounted on the cover and having an inclined surface; wherein when the pressing unit moves relative to the cover, the pressing unit abuts the inclined surface and pushes the latch by sliding relative to the inclined surface; 
 
 the connecting unit further has
 a safety segment protruding from the cover end; wherein when the cover is opened, the safety segment abuts and stops the latch such that the pressing unit is stuck by the latch. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the base further has a powder hole formed through the cutting surface; 
 the pill cutter further has
 a powder drawer detachably mounted on the base, located beneath the cutting surface, and corresponding in position to the powder hole. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pill cutter further has
 a pill box mounted on a bottom of the base and having a storage space. 
 
     
     
       19. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein
 the pill box is moveably mounted on the base and is capable of moving relative to the base to open the storage space. 
 
     
     
       20. The pill cutter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the pill cutter further has
 a pushing unit located on the outer side of the cover and having
 a pivoting end pivotally connected to the cover; 
 a pressing end being opposite to the pivoting end; and 
 an abutting part located between the pivoting end and the pressing end; the abutting part abutting the pressing unit of the cutting assembly so that the pushing unit is capable of pressing the pressing unit during pivoting relative to the cover.